Children should be taught how to be safe around pets as 1.3 million dogs
across Britain display "problem behaviour", a veterinary charity has
warned.

Children should be taught at school how to be safe around pets to combat the rising tide of disobedient and dangerous dogs, according to a report by a veterinary charity.

Owners who fail to socialise and obedience–train dogs at an early stage are adding to "frightening" levels of problem behaviour in their pets, the PDSA said.

The charity said 1.3million dogs across Britain were displaying "problem behaviour" with nearly 30 per cent of dog owners reporting being bitten or attacked by a dog.

More than half of dog owners said they knew someone who had been bitten or attacked by a dog while a separate survey of children found nearly two thirds, or 65 per cent, reported having been frightened or scared by a dog's behaviour.

In some cases dogs had been deliberately trained to be aggressive but the primary cause of anti–social behaviour in dogs was a lack of socialisation and basic obedience training when dogs were young, the report said.